Gangtok, June 11 -- The wait is finally over. The FIFA World Cup 2026, the biggest edition in football history, gets underway with Mexico taking on South Africa at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. For viewers in India, the opening match kicks off at 12:30 AM IST on Friday, June 12.

This year's tournament is a landmark one. The World Cup is being co-hosted by three nations, Mexico, the United States and Canada, and features an expanded field of 48 teams, the largest in FIFA history. A total of 104 matches will be played, with the final scheduled for July 19.

The opening fixture carries a special sense of history. The match is a rematch of the 2010 World Cup opener in Johannesburg, which ended in a 1-1 draw, and it marks the firs...